Loved watching this one. I have lived near RAF Sudbury and Lavenham all of my life. I have spent many an hour walking around Sudbury with my mum and brother. Alas about to be lost to a massive housing development. Thank god for videos like this.👍👍
Were you around Lavenham in 1969 when the Lancaster NX611 flew in from Biggin Hill and Neil Williams buzzed the Control Tower ? ? Makes me sad seeing the runways are no longer there, but I am hoping NX611 WILL fly again after the amazing restoration work they are doing at East Kirkby
No unfortunately a bit before my time. There is a video on UA-cam showing NX611 leaving Lavenham. A knew the guy that serviced her engines. A bit older than me lol. I so hope they get her in the air again .😊
@@steveb8433 Oh that's a shame. You missed a real treat my friend. I was in the ATC at the time and John Roast had recruited a small group of us to go up to Lavenham on the Saturday to inspect and sweep the Main runway in preparation for her arrival on the Sunday, and to be in the Rifle Drill Team "Guard of Honour on her arrival. On the day, our Officers were on top of the Control Tower, with us out in front. We were all wondering where NX611 was when we could hear this very faint hum, then suddenly, VRRROOOOMMMMMM and this HUGE BLACK aircraft ROARED over the Control Tower, blowing the Officers Caps nearly off in the slipstream. Neil Williams then pulled her up in a climb, circled round to the East then came back down to BUZZ the main Runway East to West, at what looked like 10-20ft off the runway. Looked like a Lancasters height above the runway. We were all just STUNNED and mesmerised as he wheeled round again and buzzed the Control Tower again, circled out westwards then came in West to East. I can STILL hear the "tink, tink, tink, tink" of her Merlin's cooling down, as we "Presented Arms" as the crew climbed out. We had all been promised a flight in her, which never materialised, but no matter, that display by Neil Williams MORE than made up for the HOURS in the cold we had spent the day before walking every inch of Lavenham's main runway. Will NEVER forget it, EVER, and it leaves me sad that no "Birds" fly from Lavenham anymore
Amazing video! Hopefully we see some of these important Suffolk airfields restored in the future (despite the closure of rougham) to commemorate their former glory and important roles they played in the war
I live in Australia now and the last few days I spent in the UK before leaving was Christmas 1969 at RAF Stradishall; one of Dad's last postings before retirement after 35 years service. I stayed at the 'Swan' hotel in Lavenham on a visit to the UK in 2017 and although aware of the predominantly US Army Air Force occupied bases around the place, had no idea of airfields at Lavenham or Sudbury.
Just so well done, guessing in most cases where things once were, to have it all revealed, to then go back to the quintessential peaceful English countryside of today, - thanks only to all those brave men and women of long ago whom we are forever indebted too.............Thank you so much James, (aka The Time Travel Artist) - lest we forget..............
From one whose undergraduate Geography degree dissertation compared pre-war and post-war land-use change on Norfolk airfield sites, this is a very impressive presentation; thank you. But just one small point (there is always a pedant somewhere) there is no "i" in Royal Ordnance.
Superb editing, well done,these places must not be forgotten.
Loved watching this one. I have lived near RAF Sudbury and Lavenham all of my life. I have spent many an hour walking around Sudbury with my mum and brother. Alas about to be lost to a massive housing development. Thank god for videos like this.👍👍
That's a shame, there's a lot of memories from when the Yanks were up there, and down in the town!!
Were you around Lavenham in 1969 when the Lancaster NX611 flew in from Biggin Hill and Neil Williams buzzed the Control Tower ? ?
Makes me sad seeing the runways are no longer there, but I am hoping NX611 WILL fly again after the amazing restoration work they are doing at East Kirkby
No unfortunately a bit before my time. There is a video on UA-cam showing NX611 leaving Lavenham. A knew the guy that serviced her engines. A bit older than me lol. I so hope they get her in the air again .😊
@@steveb8433 Oh that's a shame. You missed a real treat my friend. I was in the ATC at the time and John Roast had recruited a small group of us to go up to Lavenham on the Saturday to inspect and sweep the Main runway in preparation for her arrival on the Sunday, and to be in the Rifle Drill Team "Guard of Honour on her arrival.
On the day, our Officers were on top of the Control Tower, with us out in front. We were all wondering where NX611 was when we could hear this very faint hum, then suddenly, VRRROOOOMMMMMM and this HUGE BLACK aircraft ROARED over the Control Tower, blowing the Officers Caps nearly off in the slipstream. Neil Williams then pulled her up in a climb, circled round to the East then came back down to BUZZ the main Runway East to West, at what looked like 10-20ft off the runway. Looked like a Lancasters height above the runway. We were all just STUNNED and mesmerised as he wheeled round again and buzzed the Control Tower again, circled out westwards then came in West to East. I can STILL hear the "tink, tink, tink, tink" of her Merlin's cooling down, as we "Presented Arms" as the crew climbed out.
We had all been promised a flight in her, which never materialised, but no matter, that display by Neil Williams MORE than made up for the HOURS in the cold we had spent the day before walking every inch of Lavenham's main runway.
Will NEVER forget it, EVER, and it leaves me sad that no "Birds" fly from Lavenham anymore
Same
Amazing video! Hopefully we see some of these important Suffolk airfields restored in the future (despite the closure of rougham) to commemorate their former glory and important roles they played in the war
You have come up with a great idea. As someone who loves aviation and WWII history, this is a very cool concept. Thanks for making it and sharing.
Thanks for this. My Grandpa (Clarence Road, Sudbury) taught my Mum to drive up on the airfield, back in 1940/50 something.
Great stuff, I've recently started documenting the airfields of Hampshire. Hoping post-Covid to be able to visit more places around the UK.
Let us know how you get on, that will be interesting.
Brilliantly done....!!!.
Great job. I love these now / then comparisons. Well edited and very interesting, Thanks!
I live in Australia now and the last few days I spent in the UK before leaving was Christmas 1969 at RAF Stradishall; one of Dad's last postings before retirement after 35 years service. I stayed at the 'Swan' hotel in Lavenham on a visit to the UK in 2017 and although aware of the predominantly US Army Air Force occupied bases around the place, had no idea of airfields at Lavenham or Sudbury.
Very impressive! I LOVE how you edited this one...WOW!
Just so well done, guessing in most cases where things once were, to have it all revealed, to then go back to the quintessential peaceful English countryside of today, - thanks only to all those brave men and women of long ago whom we are forever indebted too.............Thank you so much James, (aka The Time Travel Artist) - lest we forget..............
From one whose undergraduate Geography degree dissertation compared pre-war and post-war land-use change on Norfolk airfield sites, this is a very impressive presentation; thank you. But just one small point (there is always a pedant somewhere) there is no "i" in Royal Ordnance.
Very good video, so much history wiped from the face of the earth.
Terrific video, thank you!
Superb video. WW2 Heritage disappearing fast
Deep Sabbath tragic isn’t it. Someone needs to preserve one of these properly before it’s too late.
Really well done.
Great video sir. I don’t know who the seven turkeys were that don’t like it. Keep up the good work
This is really well done and interesting!
Awesome. So fascinating. Thank you.
Great piece of historical work. Thank you. The history is right under our feet but hidden from eye level.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Merci beaucoup pour cette vidéo, c'est vraiment intéressant et impressionnant, je m'abonne pour découvrir d'autres vidéos👏👏👏👍😉🇫🇷
Excellent, thanks.
Sudbury was RAF Waldingfield.
It was Station 174 Sudbury. It was never officially known as Waldingfield. 👍
Very well done.
Very cleverly done very impressed...are you doing any more..
Great video, thanks.
Nice work.
One correction, it's Royal Ordnance Survey not ordinance.
Wrong, it is the Ordnance Survey, not Royal and not Ordinance.
This is so good, we’ve done several vlogs exploring RAF Lindholme, the moors, airfield, control tower and bomb store 👍
Bit late with this but arent there still a couple of Wellingtons over past the airfield in the marshes still? Polish crews I believe ¿?
Excellent
A brilliant content, thank you. Eamonn
RAF Felixstowe is missing
Great video.
Very Cool to see
👍👍👍
Could you do RAF Hornchurch
Sad that some of them were demolished.
It’s ordnance survey rather than ordinance survey…
Raf Martlesham?